General beer fans had Beerfest. Bock lovers just had Bockfest. And this weekend the area will celebrate yet another kind of beer.
Stoutfest, which will be held noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Molly Malone’s in Covington, is the fourth annual celebration of the traditional Irish pint. It also starts the buildup to St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
“Craig Johnson, who is in charge of Cincinnati Beerfest, suggested it to kick off St. Patrick’s weekend,” said Josh Rhodes, co-owner of Molly Malone’s. “We thought it would be a good fit. We started on the third floor here, and now we’re in a 6,000-square-foot tent.”
The best part of Stoutfest is obviously the beers, and there are always quality stouts on tap from all over the country. This year, there is a special beer that will be tapped, Molly Malone’s Dry Irish Stout.
“This is our first go at doing our own beer,” Rhodes said. “We’re extremely excited to have our first batch released to the public. What better platform to release your own stout than during your own Stoutfest?”
The stout, brewed by Braxton, will be distributed solely at Molly Malone’s three current locations – one in Covington and two in Louisville.
“This is a great opportunity to build our brand and dip our hands into the craft beer phenomenon,” Rhodes said. “It’s also been great to work with Braxton. This gets them in the Louisville market, too.
“It tastes great and we’re excited to bring it to the market,” he added.
Other highlights will be Founder’s Kentucky Breakfast Stout for VIP ticket-holders, as well as Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, a 14.2 percent ABV that will be on tap. It is normally only sold in bottles.
Although the VIP tickets sold out quickly, general admission tickets remain on sale. For all who purchase tickets ($20 advance / $25 day of event) there will be top-notch local stouts available. Braxton’s barrel-aged Dark Charge, previously released only during the brewery's December block party, will be on tap, along with Rhinegeist’s BA Ink Coffee and Vanilla and MadTree’s BA Axis Mundi Coffee and Vanilla.
Tickets are good for six 5-ounce tastes and one full pint in a commemorative glass. Additional tastes will be available for $2 each.
“Last year, we drew over 400 people,” Rhodes said. “Craig drives it out on social media, and he does a good job promoting it.”
Here is the complete list of stouts that will be available.
The "VIPs get first crack until 2 p.m." list:
- Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
- Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) 2014 edition
- Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout 2016
- Stone Xocoveza Stout
- Deschutes The Abyss
Other stouts:
- Alltech KY Extended Aged Stout
- Three Floyds Blot Out The Sun Stout
- Southern Tier Cream Brulé
- Southern Tier Chocolate Stout
- Upland Carpet Burn (Oyster Stout)
- West 6th Snake Eyes imperial Stout
- Braxton Dark Charge Barrel Aged Stout
- Anderson Valley Huge Arker
- Atwater Cherry Stout
- Avery Czar
- Blue Stallion Oatmeal Stout
- Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
- Dry Ground Barrel Aged Rapture
- Heavy Seas Firkin TBA
- Highland Black Watch
- Left Hand Wake Up The Dead Nitro
- New Holland Dragons Milk
- Schlafly Coffee Stout
- Rhinegeist BA INK Coffee and Vanilla
- MadTree Axis Mundi BA Coffee and Vanilla
- Bells Expedition Stout, Harry McGillis Stout, Sweet Potato Stout, 30th Anniversary Stout
- Country Boy Nate's Coffee Stout and Sinkhole Stout 2016
- West 6th Snake Eyes Stout
- Molly Malone’s Dry Irish Stout
Stoutfest
Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Molly Malone’s, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington
$20 advance / $25 day of event
www.allaboutstoutfest.com
